[430] The Blue-stocking Club, or Bas-bleu.
The following is the account of the origin of the Blue-stocking Club, extracted from Boswell's "Life of Johnson:" "About this time (1781) it was much the fashion for several ladies to have evening assemblies, where the fair sex might participate in conversation with literary and ingenious men, animated by a desire to please. These societies were denominated Blue-stocking Clubs, the origin of which title being little known, it may be worth while to relate it. One of the most eminent members of these societies, when they first commenced, was Mr. Benjamin Stillingfleet, (author of tracts relating to natural history, &c.) whose dress was remarkably grave, and in particular it was observed that he wore blue stockings. Such was the excellence of his conversation, that his absence was felt as so great a loss, that it used to be said, 'We can do nothing without the blue stockings;' and thus by degrees the title was established. Miss Hannah More has admirably described a Blue-stocking Club, in her 'Bas Bleu,' a poem in which many of the persons who were most conspicuous there are mentioned."
[431] A large mansion near Newport Pagnel, formerly belonging to Miss Wright.
[432] The Rev. Mr. Powley married Mrs. Unwin's daughter.
[433] Poor Kate and the Lace-maker were portraits drawn from real life.
[434] Mr. Chester, of Chicheley, near Newport Pagnel.
[435] Private correspondence.
[436] Mr. Henry Cowper, who was reading-clerk in the House of Lords, was remarkable for the clearness and melody of his voice. This qualification is happily alluded to by the poet, in the following lines:—
"Thou art not voice alone, but hast besides
Both heart and head, and could'st with music sweet
Of Attic phrase and senatorial tone,
Like thy renown'd forefathers,* far and wide
Thy fame diffuse, praised, not for utterance meet
Of others' speech, but magic of thy own."
*Lord-Chancellor Cowper, and Spencer Cowper, Chief-Justice of Chester.